Chapter 28 : It’s time.

Chapter 28

Just as Iris was rising from her seat, preparing to set out in search of Lucas, a voice thundered through the chamber.

"You're not going anywhere."

Iris froze. Her sharp gaze snapped upward, locking onto a single silver eye staring at her from the ceiling.

She wasn't startled.

There was only one person who could intrude into her chamber like this without her noticing.

Her mother.

Seline Mindweaver, The Mind Saint.

Iris crossed her arms. "What do you mean, Mother?"

Seline's voice echoed through the chamber, calm yet absolute.

"Exactly what I said. You will not leave."

Iris clenched her jaw. "I only intend to ask about Lucas's whereabouts. I won't cause trouble."

A sharp, amused scoff rang through the room.

"And you expect me to believe that?" Seline said dryly. "With your obsession toward him? Do you think I can see that ?You'll lose control the moment you see him."

Iris stiffened, her fingers twitching at the accusation.

"The Kingdom of Evernight is not a place you can just waltz into," Seline continued. "It only allows those who have an affinity for death—or those personally permitted by that monster Thania Evermourne."

Her voice turned cold.

"And you have neither."

Iris's frustration grew. "Then I'll find another way—"

"There is no other way," Seline interrupted sharply. "If you go, you will die. And I am not planning to fight that thing unnecessarily."

Her voice lowered.

"So you have two choices. Either you stay willingly, or…"

The silver eye glowed ominously.

"I will make you stay."

The air in the chamber grew suffocating.

Iris's body tensed.

She knew what her mother was capable of.

Seline Mindweaver wasn't just a master of the mind—she was an absolute dominator of it. If she wanted, she could render Iris unconscious without her even realizing it.

Iris gritted her teeth. "Would you really use your power on your own daughter?"

"If that's what it takes to keep you from getting yourself killed?" Seline's voice softened just slightly. "Yes."

Iris didn't speak.

But she didn't have to.

The entire chamber trembled. The walls, the floor, even the air itself seemed to vibrate under the pressure of her telekinetic power.

Seline watched her silently, then sighed.

"Iris, I am not done yet." she said, her voice turning serious again. "Stop all actions against the royal family."

Iris's eyes snapped back to the silver eye.

"What?"

"My Saint power warns me of disaster if we continue. Fate has warned me. If we push further, we'll meet the same fate as the Ignis bloodline."

A chilling pause.

"The royal family's hidden cards are more dangerous than I anticipated."

Iris frowned. "That doesn't make sense. If they were so powerful, why haven't they dealt with us already?"

Seline's silver eye flickered.

"Because they can't utilize that without prerequisites."

"And truly that's how you understand how deep fate is."

Iris narrowed her eyes.

Seline continued, her tone turning cryptic.

"The destruction of this empire will not come by our hands. Not by yours. Not even by that foolish beast Elias, who plays at kingship."

"No," she murmured.

"The one who will decide the fate of this empire…"

Her silver eye locked onto Iris.

"…is the very boy you so desperately chase after."

"And it'd like everything is in place just for that."

Iris's breath hitched.

Lucas.

Her mother's voice was like a whisper in her soul.

"And that boy… is in the territory of someone who controls death as naturally as breathing."

A beat of silence.

Seline's voice softened.

"If you truly want to see him again… if you want to stand by his side…"

A pause.

"…then become Fate."

"Become the personification of Fate. Something even our ancestors didn't manage to achieve. They, no we, only managed to become Saint with mind power of bloodline."

"Surpass us. And become Fate Iris."

Iris's eyes widened slightly.

Seline's silver eye dimmed.

"Because that child's potential is abnormal," she said quietly. "And as you are now… you will never be able to keep up with him."

A final warning.

"And more importantly—if you remain as you are, that Queen of Death will kill you the moment you become an obstacle to him."

"Because she is now his guardian."

"Can you imagine how obscene he must be for that monster to be his guardian?"

Madness. 

With that, the silver eye disappeared.

The room fell into silence.

Iris sat there, deep in thought.

Her mother's words echoed in her mind.

Lucas…

She knew better than anyone how unnatural his potential was.

She had felt it the moment she dreamed of him.

And she knew…

As she was now, she would never be worthy.

A slow, determined smile stretched across her lips.

"So, Fate it is…" she murmured.

She stood.

"Saint of Fate… or Saint of Death?"

Her silver eyes glowed.

"Let's see if even Death can kill Fate."

She turned to Albert, her ever-loyal butler.

"Prepare my training chamber," she ordered. "And gather the necessary resources."

Albert bowed. "At once, my lady."

Iris took a deep breath.

It was time to break through to the master realm. 

She would become stronger.

No matter what it took.

…

City of Gold — Royal Palace 

High above the golden city, Emperor Atticus stood at his balcony, watching the world move beneath his feet.

His empire.

His people.

His rule.

And yet…

The air smelled of decay.

Rot.

The empire was dying.

Atticus exhaled sharply.

His golden eyes flickered as he processed recent events.

"Seline, that bitch. She knows exactly when to push and when to pull back."

His fingers tapped against the balcony railing.

"If she had taken even one step further… I would have been able to use 'THAT' and her fate would have been the same as the Ignis."

He had been ready.

Had the Mindweavers overstepped, he would have erased them without hesitation.

He clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Tch. Why was their bloodline chosen by Fate?"

His jaw clenched, bitterness flashing across his face.

But then, his lips curled into a slow, dangerous grin.

"…Well. Fate may favor them, but not everyone is."

He turned his gaze toward the northern borders toward the deep wild forest. 

Toward a certain kingdom of beasts.

Atticus smirked.

"There are some creatures in this world who have no concept of restraint."

He leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

"I wonder… how long until that self-proclaimed 'King' Elias makes a move?"

A chuckle left his lips.

"If he's foolish enough, that is."

His golden eyes burned with anticipation.

<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>

Five years later —

The Kingdom of Evernight — Thania's Castle

A cold mist curled through the dark corridors of the castle.

Inside the throne room, Thania Evermourne sat with a lazy, knowing smile.

The candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows across the ancient stone walls.

Beside her, a figure knelt.

"My queen," the servant murmured. "The world outside has grown restless. The empire and the Mindweavers still stand at an uneasy truce. The so-called 'King of Beasts' is readying himself and going soon to war with the empire."

Thania chuckled softly.

"As expected."

Her gaze drifted toward the doors at the far end of the hall.

Toward the forest of Death. 

He was waiting.

Five years.

For five years, she had guided him.

For five years, she had supported him.

For five years, she had done her absolute best to make him see her not just as a queen. 

And she has succeeded. 

Now she was not just a queen to him. Or maybe…maybe she is still a queen in his eyes. 

But his queen. 

And now…

He was ready.

Thania rose from her throne.

Her void eyes gleamed.

"It's time."

She turned

"Let's go meet him."

…

Somewhere in the forest of death— A battlefield. 

The scent of blood clung to the air.

The battlefield was silent.

And in the center of it all—

A young man stood.

A black cloak draped over his shoulders, torn and bloodstained. His ashen eyes reflected the moonlight, cold and piercing.

In his hand, a blade dripped with crimson.

Lucas Ignis exhaled slowly.

Five years.

Five years of survival.

Five years of hellish training with his master.

He had walked through fire.

He had gazed at Death more time than he can count. 

He had bled, fought, and endured.

And now—

He was no longer the boy who had once fled the empire because of powerlessness. 

He was something else.

He had become something more.

Lucas lifted his sword, shaking the blood from its blade.

The night whispered around him.

And somewhere—deep within the shadows—he felt it.

A presence.

Thania appeared.

She looked at him and smiled. A knowing smile. 

"Are you ready dear ?"

Suddenly Lilia, William and Sirius appeared. 

They each looked at Thania weirdly. 

They still cannot get used to this version of her. 

So different from before…

Lilia looked at Lucas with an affectionate eyes. Then she transformed into a white fox with one tail. At the end of the tail is red and she gimped on him.

Lucas just stood there smiled lightly. 

He is not the same boy anymore. 

He has changed. 

His feelings has changed. 

And his ambitions too 

[Death looked at you with a proud smile.]

[Death said you are truly worthy of being his son.]

[Fire stare at Death with killing eyes. Fire said to Death to stop saying Lucas is his son.]

[Fire shouted at Death and said Lucas is first my son before yours.]

[Death looked at Fire with a condescending eyes and smile lightly, a mocking smile.]

But Lucas interrupted them before Fire starting again. 

'Stop it you too. It's not the time for this. And please Death can you stop provoking Fire.'

Lucas said inwardly with a sigh. 

Death just snorted and said nothing. 

Lucas shooks his head. 

He is now used to these two since the day he awakened the will of death. 

He looked at his shoulder and see Lillie in her fox form. 

She is now his contracted beast. Like his Sirius is to William. 

And the way she became it was quite unexpected. 

But that's a story for an another time. 

Without a word, he turned and looked at this peoples who are now his most trusted. 

He smiled lightly. 

A smile that can capture the heart of even the holiest of beings. 

A smile so devasting that Thania almost lost control of herself. 

He said calmly.

"Let's go."

"It's time."

End of chapter 28. 

——————/////

A/N:

Young Lucas was enough right ? It's time for him to grow up.

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English is not my first language so if there is any mistake or something…please point it out…gently.